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United States Patent |
5,031,437
|
Elhaus
,   et al.
|
July 16, 1991
|
Apparatus for pulling extrusions from a press
Abstract
An apparatus for pulling extrusions from a press, comprising two pullers
(5,6) which alternatingly pull the extruded product (3) along an extrusion
path and each are equipped with a separator (16) that moves along, and
further comprising a cross-transfer conveyor (8) which conveys the
extruded products upon separation in a direction transversely of the
extrusion direction (F) for further processing, is characterized in that
puller heads of the pullers (5,6) are designed to be movable transversely
out of the extrusion path (2) for lateral shifting of the clamped extruded
product by a cross-drive.
Inventors:
|
Elhaus; Friedrich-Wilhelm (Moos, DE);
Makel; Eckhard (Velbert, DE)
|
Assignee:
|
Elhaus Industrieanlagen GmbH (Rielasingen, DE)
|
Appl. No.:
|
528733 |
Filed:
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May 23, 1990 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
72/257 |
Intern'l Class: |
B21C 035/02 |
Field of Search: |
72/257,422
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4307597 | Dec., 1981 | Elhaus et al. | 72/257.
|
4507950 | Apr., 1985 | Elhaus | 72/257.
|
4628719 | Dec., 1986 | Best | 72/257.
|
4635459 | Jan., 1987 | Elhaus | 72/257.
|
4873857 | Oct., 1989 | Giancarlo | 72/257.
|
4953381 | Sep., 1990 | Visser | 72/422.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
1153321 | Aug., 1963 | DE.
| |
1452374 | Feb., 1969 | DE | 72/257.
|
1299589 | Jul., 1969 | DE | 72/257.
|
3040236 | May., 1982 | DE | 72/257.
|
Primary Examiner: Spruill; Robert L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Willian Brinks Olds Hofer Gilson & Lione
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for pulling an extruded product from a press along an
extrusion path and severing the extruded product to produce a separated
portion comprising:
a first puller having a puller head including first means for grasping an
extruded product, first means mounted on said first puller for severing an
extruded product into an extrusion portion and a separate portion, and
first cross-drive means mounted on said first puller for moving the first
puller head in a direction transverse to the extrusion path to assist in
moving the separate portion of the extruded product away from and
transverse to the extrusion path;
a second puller having a puller head including second means for grasping an
extruded product, second means mounted on said second puller for severing
an extruded product into an extrusion portion and a separate portion, and
second cross-drive means mounted on said second puller for moving the
second puller head in a direction transverse to the extrusion path to
assist in moving the separated portion of the extruded product away from
and transverse to the extrusion path;
a cross-transfer conveyor located at least partially under the extrusion
path to assist in conveying the separated portion of the extruded product
away from and transverse to the extrusion path while one of the
cross-drive means is operating; and
means for moving said first puller and said second puller alternately along
the extrusion path such that an extruded product is pulled from the press
and severed into an extrusion portion and a separated portion.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transverse movement of the
first puller head and the second puller head can be superimposed over the
movement of said first puller and said second puller in the extrusion
direction, said movement in the extrusion direction having a velocity at
least equal to the velocity at which the extruded product exits the press.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the velocity and distance of
transverse movement of the first puller head and the second puller head by
the first cross-drive means and the second cross-drive means is harmonized
with the velocity and distance of transverse movement of said
cross-transfer conveyor.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transverse movement of the
first puller head and the second puller head accomplished by the first
cross-drive means and the second cross-drive means is synchronized with
the movement of said cross-transfer conveyor.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further including support for the
extruded product along the extrusion path and wherein said supports are
designed to be lowered before actuation of the cross-transfer conveyor.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the puller head which is
pulling the separated portion of the extruded product increases its
velocity in the extrusion direction so that the puller head is moving
faster than the velocity at which the extruded product exits the press
before the puller head is moved in a transverse direction by the
cross-drive means.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first cross-drive means
operates during the movement of said first puller along the extrusion path
and the second cross-drive means operates during the movement of said
second puller along the extrusion path, and wherein said first puller and
said second puller are controlled such that their speed along the
extrusion path during the operation of the cross-drive means is at least
equal to the speed at which the extruded product exits the press.
8. A method of alternately pulling an extruded product from a press along
an extrusion path and severing the extruded product to produce a separate
portion, comprising the steps of:
grasping a first emerging end of an extruded product by a first puller
having means for grasping;
pulling the extruded product along the extrusion path by said first puller;
grasping a second emerging end of the extruded product by a second puller
having means for grasping at a distance from said first puller;
severing the extruded product into a separated portion and an extrusion
portion by severing means mounted on said second puller;
moving the separated portion in a direction transverse to the extrusion
path by a cross-drive means mounted on said first puller wherein the
cross-drive means moves a puller head on said first puller in a direction
transverse to the extrusion path;
releasing the separated portion onto a cross-transfer conveyor which
supports and conveys the separated portion away from the extrusion path,
said cross-transfer conveyor located at least partially under the
extrusion path; and
alternating the pulling action of said first and said second pullers so
that after said first puller removes the separated portion from the
extrusion path it returns to a position near the press and grasps a third
emerging end of an extruded product at a distance from said second puller
and severs the product into the separated and extrusion portions wherein
said second puller pulls the separated portion and said first puller pulls
the extrusion portion.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the transverse movement of the
first puller head and the second puller head accomplished by the first
cross-drive means and the second cross-drive means is synchronized with
the movement of said cross-transfer conveyor.
10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the extent and velocity of the
transverse movement of the first puller head and the second puller head
accomplished by the cross-drive means is harmonized with the transverse
movement of the cross-transfer conveyor.
11. A method according to claim 8 lowering the separated portion of the
extruded product below the extrusion path before said cross-transfer
conveyor is operated.
12. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:
pulling the separated portion along the extrusion path at a velocity
greater than the velocity at which the extruded product exits the press
before moving the separated portion in a direction transverse to the
extrusion path.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to an apparatus for pulling extruded products
from a press, especially extrusions of aluminum or aluminum alloys,
comprising two pullers which alternatingly pull the products extruded by
the press along an extrusion path, grasping the extruded product each by a
puller head adapted to be moved close to the product, and further
comprising at least one separator which severs the moving extruded
product. Once severed, the extruded products are conveyed by a
cross-transfer conveyor in a direction transversely of the extrusion
direction for further processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such an apparatus may be of different designs, as follows:
1. Two pullers each are equipped with a separator which moves along and
both pullers alternatingly cover the entire extrusion path, being
operative alternatingly.
2. Once more two pullers are provided which operate across the entire
extrusion path. Yet there is only one separator which is stationary and
apart from the pullers. Its separating tool is moved along with the
extruded product for "flying" separation.
3. Two pullers are provided, the first one being moved only through one
half of the extrusion path, while the second one pulls the extruded
product through the other half of the extrusion path. Only the first
puller is furnished with a separator that moves along.
With all these apparatus there is the difficulty of having to move the
extruded product after the severing in crosswise direction to clear the
extrusion path for further processing, while the other puller already has
grasped the leading end of the next extruded product and is moving ahead
on the extrusion path. That causes the risk of collision with the extruded
product upon separation and with the cross-transfer conveyor.
To avoid such collisions, in the known apparatus the extrusion velocities
are limited to small values which are lower than the extrusion velocities
actually attainable by the press and the puller device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to remedy that and devise an apparatus of
the kind specified initially such that work can be done at maximum
extrusion velocities.
To solve the problem, it is provided in an apparatus of the kind defined
initially that the puller heads of each puller are designed to be movable
transversely by a cross-drive means to shift the clamped extruded product
laterally out of the extrusion path.
Preferably, the transverse movement of each puller head can be superimposed
over the movement of the puller in extrusion direction, the velocity
component of this movement in extrusion direction being at least equal to
the extrusion velocity of the extruded product.
For particularly reliable prevention of the risk of collision when the
extrusion velocity equals the velocity component of the speed of removal
of the extruded product, upon separation, in extrusion direction, another
modification of the invention provides for the severed extruded product to
be moved away at elevated speed before actuation of the cross-drive means
so as to create a distance in extrusion direction between the trailing end
of the extruded product and the leading end of the next successive
extruded product.
An apparatus according to the invention makes sure that immediately after
the separation the respective puller in operation removes the extruded
product from the extrusion path by a combined movement in extrusion
direction and in a direction transversely thereof. This will make room in
the extrusion path for the next extruded product already grasped by the
other puller. In this manner the risk of collision is eliminated even at
high extrusion velocity.
The invention will display its full effect if the cross-transfer conveyor
is operated at the same time that the transverse movement of the puller
head, superimposed over the extruding, takes place. The cross-transfer
conveyor also conveys the parts of the extruded product remote from the
clamped end in a direction transversely of the extrusion direction.
The cross-transfer conveyor may be of conventional design (U.S. Pat. No.
4,507,950). For use with the invention, however, the known cross-transfer
conveyor preferably is modified such that those parts of the extrusion
path which support the extruded product are lowered prior to actuation of
the cross-transfer conveyor. This device is particularly well suited for
use with the invention for yet another reason, namely because the extent
and velocity of the transverse movement of products conveyed by the
cross-transfer conveyor are adjustable. That facilitates the necessary
harmonization between the transverse movements of the puller head and of
the cross-transfer conveyor.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following
description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic overall view of a press with downstream extrusion
path, puller means, and other devices;
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a puller means according to the invention in an enlarged
side elevation and top plan view, respectively;
FIG. 4 presents the puller means according to the invention, as seen
against the extrusion direction, showing one puller in operative position
and the other puller in inoperative position.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the general view of FIG. 1 reference numeral 1 designates a press which
is followed by an extrusion path 2 for an extruded product 3. A water
quenching device 4 is arranged directly behind the mouth of the press. Two
pullers which alternatingly pull the extruded product from the press are
marked by reference numerals 5 and 6. A cooling bed 7 is arranged beside
the extrusion path 2, and a cross-transfer conveyor 8 moves the extruded
products 3 upon severing transversely of the extrusion direction F toward
the cooling bed 7 in direction G.
The specific structure and mode of operation of the two pullers are shown
in FIGS. 2 to 4. Each puller 5, 6, has its own carriage 9 running on two
rails 10, 11, one above the other, above the extrusion path 2.
Furthermore, each puller comprises a puller head 12 having a clamping jaw
13 and clamping lamina 14, the puller head 12 being displaceable by a
pressure fluid cylinder 15 in direction G transversely of the puller
means. Likewise mounted on each puller head 12 is a separator saw 16 which
is also movable transversely of the extrusion direction F. The clamping
jaw 13 is adapted to be swung laterally out of the extrusion path to
permit the puller head 12 to be lowered on to the extruded product 3.
The puller heads 12 each are carried by a support structure 17 which is
adapted to be shifted vertically with respect to the carriage 9. The left
half of FIG. 2 and the right half of FIG. 4 illustrate the raised,
inoperative position of a puller, while the lowered, operative position is
shown in discontinuous lines in the left half of FIG. 2 and in continuous
lines in the right hand of FIG. 2 and also in full lines in FIG. 4, left
side.
The puller head 12 of puller 5 is lowered in order to grasp the leading end
of an extruded product. The clamping jaw 13 is swung into the extrusion
path below the extruded product 3. In the distance marked k, the puller
head 12 is accelerated, coordinated with the velocity of the extruded
product, and clamped to the same. The pull changes from puller 6 to puller
5, and the extruded product is severed by the separator saw 16 of puller
5.
Upon separation of the extruded product, the pressure fluid cylinder 15 of
puller 6 is operated to generate transverse movement of the puller head 12
of puller 6 which movement is superimposed over the extruding motion of
puller 6. At the same time, the cross-transfer conveyor 8 is actuated such
that the whole extruded product is moved simultaneously in directions G
and F, at a resultant of movement R indicated in FIG. 3, to clear the
extrusion path 2. In this manner not only the leading end of the extruded
product at the puller 6 but also the remainder of the extruded product are
conveyed in transverse direction at a cross-transfer velocity V.sub.3.
That causes the extruded product 3 to slide at a velocity component
V.sub.1 across parts of the cross-transfer conveyor 8. In this context
V.sub.1 must be selected according to the equation V.sub.1
.gtoreq.V.sub.2, wherein V.sub.2 is the extrusion velocity (see FIG. 2).
This movement by one transverse stroke Q carried out by the separated
extruded product clears the extrusion path for reception of the leading
end of the next extruded product by means of puller 5.
Before the cross movement described above is initiated, the puller 6 may be
moved briefly at elevated speed in extrusion direction so as to obtain a
distance, upon separation, between the severed trailing end of the
extruded product and the leading end of the next successive extruded
product. That makes sure that collision will be avoided.
While this invention has been shown and described in connection with
preferred embodiments, it is apparent that certain changes and
modifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made from the
basic features of the present invention. Accordingly, it is the intention
of the Applicants to protect all variations and modifications within the
true spirit and valid scope of the invention.
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